Apparatus and process for treating gaseous fluid



April 7, 1936. J. F. WAiT 2,036,899

APPARATUS AND PRO CESS FOR TREATING GASEQUS FLUID Filed May 13, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 Ill V 4|J\ 20 W 11 Z Z :1 19 2? 1 17 z;

t I I I 5 34 i Z 7 J1 1NVENTOR J. F. WAIT Apfil 7, 1936.

APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR TREATING GASEOUS FLUID Filed May 13, 1953 s Sheets-Sheet l2 IN VENTOR April 7, 1936. J w 2,036,899

APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR TREATING GASEQUS FLUID Filed May 13, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR Patented Apr. 7, 1936 PATENT OFFICE I APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR TREATING GASEOUS FLUID Justin F. Wait,

New York, N. Y.

Application May 13, 1933, Serial No. $20,964

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for illuminating and treating a gaseous fluid and objects therein, by means of electricity. It involves the use of high voltage and/or high frequency which may cause the illumination and which may also be used as for production of acti vated oxygen. The invention may thus be used to cause pleasant and useful results which satisfy a person and insure good health. This application is similar to that previously filed as Ser. No. 449,338 filed May 2, 1930 and embodies some modifications of and improvements to the substance thereof. It is related to Ser. No. 433,704

filed Mar. 6, 1930.

It has been common to cause light efi'ects by discharge through a tube containing a gas such as neon, argon and mercury and combinations thereof. voltages up to about 10,000. Such voltages have also been used to form a discharge through air or other oxygen containing gas with the resulting formation of ozone. The voltages so used, if in excess of that available as ordinarily generated or distributed by public service companies has been produced by means of transformers which require an alternating supply.

I have devised a means whereby it is possible to generate a high voltage of controlled frequency as by causing relative motion between a magnetic field and a conductor which may be in a form of a multiplicity of coils in a field and by V causing said voltage to. discharge between terminals, conductors or other equivalent form of electrode, located in the 'close proximity of the generator. This phase of the invention whereby high voltage is generated at the point of use eliminates the hazard, inconvenience and cost of distributing current, caused by high voltage. The voltage need not be over about a thousand or so if the frequency is made correspondingly higher.

High voltage may be applied for a dual performance thus affording simplicity and lowering costs. I have found it desirable under some conditions to use the same source of high voltage In general such tubes have employed.

air or other gas. Rays cause change in such a gas and movement of said gas can cause the rays to cause adesired reaction at a remote point. This effect may be as by ionization or chemical change such as the production of ozone. When my invention is applied to increase human comfort and/or health the air movement may produce a desirable ventilating or cooling eifect.

My process may thus involve in combination, generation of high voltage at a. desired frequency, 10 discharge through a confined gas and controlled motion of gaseous fluid. The confined gas may be such as neon in a sealed air free tube. The gaseous fluid maybe air, making the process applicable for use in the home and other places where persons are apt to collect. With tubes containing gases which should be replaced or replenished, the high frequency may be used to cause, as by-induced heat, formation of a replacing portion. I

The process may also be used for such purposes as advertising. The illuminating eflects may be controlled to form figures and to cause impressions to be formed. Selected forms and types of tubes may be used to produce pleasant 26 blue-containing colors which appeal to the eye and act on-the optical parts without irritation. Persons with contrasting colors in the form of clothing or powders or rouge appear quite pleasing under conditions of such display especially 30 with direction of the color and other rays over a complete horizontal circle with large divergence vertically. v

Neon, argon and other similar kinds of tubes are generally formed as small tubes and used to direct light over an angle of about 180 degrees or in every instance with some restriction of the horizontal circle or without uniformity. I have found it possible to have a complete circle as by forming a close spiral or tube of small diameter 40 or by using a number of tubes close together which so form the elements of the surface of a cylinder. Thisthus yields a surface controlled as to area and shape by the use of a multiplicity of small tubes located in close proximity.

Such a surface may be caused to give special 'efiects by controlling the arrangement of tubes unlike as to gas content. .For example a multiplicity of such tubes of two kinds, one of which yields a deep blue and the other a greenish blue maybeused. The tubes would thenmsoarranged that unlike tubes are in close proximity so that the mingled effect of the two colors may be observed. In this manner the rays of different sorts would be directed in the same general direction. Rays of one kind may be directed differently from those of another thus producing special effects, for example, the sides of a cylinder or cone may be of one color whereas an end may be of another color. Similarly, a circle might be quartered, each quarter being of a different color from the color of the adjacent quarter. A difference in intensity is frequently the equivalent of a difference of color.

Geometric figures, regular or irregular, may be formed of luminous tubes. Such tubes may illuminate all or selected portions of the soformed figures. For example the surface of a cylinder may be made up of parallel tubes corresponding to elements of the surface of a cylinder parallel to the axis or the tubes may be as of a near close spiral wherein the .tubes approximate the position of circumferential elements of the surface of a cylinder. Such figures may thus be formed of tubular elements of controlled color and intensity.

One portionof the surface of a tube may direct light against a mirror-dike surface. This feature may be used to blend colors and to give greater efiiciency as by throwing light to a selected place. Prisms or other form may be controlled as to relative position with the rays contacting the same so as to split parts of such rays and to give further color control. Such effects may be used in combination with ray filters. In some instances I prefer to rotate mirrors or prisms or the luminous tubes.

The appearance of objects is due to reflected light and the luminosity of particles covering the object. My invention may include means for coating objects or portions thereof with material which is influenced by rays generated in the described manner. Agents such as ozone which may be formed, may cause indirect action and cause such a coating to appear luminous; A substance, such as metallic aluminum, may be partially coated by or adjacent to a product and so cause luminosity by virtue of the action of the rays on the metallic aluminum or its equivalent, I refer to aluminum or its equivalent as ionizing agent, without committing myself to the exact mechanism of reaction which appears to be due to an ionizing effect but which may be otherwise. r

The process includes alteration of the oxygen containing gas and the generation of ozone with-- in a luminous field. If the illuminating means is cylindrical in shape, this effect is quite pronounced. The wires on which the rays fall are influenced electrically and as by condensation of oil and like coatings which may be contained thereon.

The luminous tube produces rays which ionize the gaseous fluid in the vicinity. This ionization is beneficial to a person and also assists in or influences the passage of a discharge which may cause the formationof a product such as ozone, an active form of ongen which will produce desirable action such as removal or alteration of odors and bacterial form. Rays, emit- .ted from the tube, may be impinged on an electrode and so assist in current fiow, a similar effect being used to cause ion formation by impinging the blue rays on aluminum or other'foillike substance.

A feature of the invention involves producing an active agent and passage of a gaseous fluid such.as air, containing the agent, through a space and causing rays. to pass through said space in a manner to cause a color effect on Oh- I aosasea jects contained within said space or in contact therewith. The agent, if ozone or like product, may be active and destroy or alter odors and/or bacteria. Odoriferous substance such as a perfume may be added to the air to produce a pleasant effect on the olfactory organs, such eflect being contingent upon and influenced by ray generation at a point within the space and close to its ultimate point. Heat of the used parts may be utilized to increase (probably by increase I in vapor pressure) the effect of desirable odoriferous substances as mayair velocity.

An odor may be pleasant alone aniyet be undesirable and even offensive if mixed with other odors such as a body odor. involve maintenance of a perfume in controlled amount with continuous removal of such body odor. If the perfume is of the oxidized type and includes an ingredient, such as vanillin, it will not be appreciably affected by action of an agent such as ozone, whereas impurities and undesired odors will be removed thereby or reduced in intensity.

The customary method of installing and operating such apparatus as ozone generators and luminous tubes and involving a direct current supply requires a motor generator set in combination which is invariably located at a point remote to the point of application or use.- My process involves passing the applied current through a motor and then generating high voltageat a point separated therefrom. The separation of voltage by a matter of inches is important as it avoids a hazard prevalent 'inordinary design wherein high voltage and line service are separated only as by varished cambric in thin layers.

One form of generator of high voltage, may have a rotor carrying a conductor in coil form and with the axis of rotation parallel to the lines of force. The coil form may be such as to build up voltage and the field structure and coil form made such as to give controlled frequency. Speed of rotation and field strength may also be used to control voltage and frequency. Such generator may work in connection with converting means which will give a unidirectional current.

High frequency may be caused by high tension discharge across a. spark gap. This gives a frequency which assists in causing illuminating effects with the type of tube described. Such discharge may be modified by inserting a dielectric between the discharge electrodes, so-

My process may thus I urn forming a dielectric gap. Discharges of this type electrode and, under some conditions, operation .6

may be obtained without any electrode passing into the gas filled tube. If an aluminum foil or other means'of getting a contact to the outer surface of a tube is used, a glow will result. This general method involving a so-formed non-penetrating electrode. makes it possible to have more light at selected portions of a. luminous tube.

The use of high frequency makes it possible to contact tubes in parallel. W'ith ordinary frequency parallel circuits cause much variation in intensity of the illumination.

My invention may also provide for means for tuning the gap discharge with the neon or other tube. This may be done as by controlling the dielectric and frequency. Such tuning with high I rotary spark gap in a wireless telegraph set. a The discharge across the gap is of the spark type.

Itis not continuous and is an interrupted discharge which for all practical purposes makes and breaks. My invention preferably involves a continuous discharge with practically no interruption, a true brush discharge being suitable for most purposes.

An electrode may be caused to move relative to a second electrode which is spaced therefrom and a current caused to pass across the gap therebetween. A dielectric may be placed in the gap to cause desirable eifects. This causes a flow or discharge with excellent properties. Fixed electrodes sometimes allow localized discharge between a point on one electrode to one on the other, whereas, if one is moved the discharge conditions are continuously changed, as

regard local influences, such as those due to local imperfections or variations in shape electrodes or conductors and the distance therebetween. Such change thus in reality insures approximate uniformity of fiow.

' means, such as motor I driven by current from supply wires 2 and controlled by lever 3 operating with contact 4 and resistance 5, drives a shaft 6 connecting with flexible coupling I controlling I the movement of shaft extension 3. The shaft extension is revolved in stationary bearings such as 3 and I8 and bears a rotor H which revolves therewith.

The rotor II may carry a suitable insulating disc such as fibre i2 so-i'ormed as to carry a coil form 53. One or more conducting discs such as i4 and I5 may be mounted on disc I 2 by means of spacers such as insulators l8 and I1.

Field generating coils such as H and I! may be operated in a controlled manner and wound about iron structures 23 and 2! which may be maintained stationary as by means of bolt 22 contained in spoke 23 of the integral piece 9, 2i and 23. Lips or projections 24 and 25 may project from the piece 2! so as to direct the magnetic field the lines of force of which are cut by the conductor of the coil l3. strength ofthe field and windings of coil. l3 are made so as to give the desired voltage. Frequency may be influenced by coil and field arrangement, the projections 24 and 25 for example being in multiple about a circle and causing variation infield.

The coil l3 may be made up of a multiplicity of parts such as small sections of coil of about the same width as the circumferential distance of the surface or lip 25 and spaced apart at a. suitable distance, the leads therefrom may be wired so as to add the voltages of the sections. One terminal of the coil is shown as contacting with discs l4 and i5 by means of wire shown to the left of insulators l6 and H. The other terminal of the coil may be contacted to the frame as a sort of ground connection by means of wire 25.

Voltage generated in the coil l3 may cause The polarity and current to flow from the edges of discs I 4 and It to dielectric cylinders 21 and 23 contacting the metallic parts and 2| also grounded and thus causing a'brush discharge. This discharge will act on gaseous fluid contained in or passing through the discharge zone such as at 13.

A contact such as 30 may ride the disc l4 or be separated therefrom by a small gap. This contact may supply current to tubes 3! and 32 which may be of glass and contain a gaseous mixture such as argon and mercury. Current will flow through tube to the opposite electrode and to the "ground" as illustrated. This flow will cause a bluish luminous effect. There are other and perhapsmore desirable wiring means that will create different and desired effects.

The discs 33 and 34 may be perforated and constructed as desired such as to control air flow and to contact the same with parts such; as the tubes and/or the discharge. These discs may be of glass, fibre or other suitable structural material and designed so as to hold the parts in desired positions. v

A ray filter 35 may be used to control the effects of the rays passing from the outer surface thereof. This makes it possible to modify the net effect. This filter may be circular to conform with the general construction or it may be of other shape and it may be of variable action through sections of its surface. The filter may be carried as by means of ring 36 and pins 31 and supplemented by braces, not shown, if so desired.

Fan blades 38 may be mounted as shown, or their equivalent, such as by wings attached to the rotor I I, provided this causes air motion. If air such as-nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen or other gaseous fluid is forced downward it may enter as through the opening 39 with curved edges 40 and 4| and then after treatment as by ozone and rays may discharge through openings located close to 31. The apparatus and method may be used for influencing or promoting reaction of various gaseous fluids that may be so ionized or excited or otherwise treated by rays or discharge.

One variation of the process is the method which comprises rotating the luminous parts. For example tubes of various kinds and shapes may be rotated to cause pleasing and .attractive color effects. In such instances the potential coils may beinterconstructed with the tubes or separated therefrom. Variation of speed of rotation may be made to cause varia'tionin color and in the design of the visible effect. At the speed of which the motor and fan operate to produce the high frequency current, the color is one of a net over all result of the individual colors displayed because the order of the speed of rotation is such as to be beyond the ability of the eye to distinguishindividual colors.

, Numerous other variations and combinations may be used for example the generation of voltage may be accomplished by revolving the field and having the coils stationary or by other means of causing relative motion between a field and a conductor.

The wiring diagram as shown in Fig. 2 may be ing from electrode 53 to electrode 54 and causing ionization in tube 55 a luminous eflfect is proquency and the voltage may be varied.

duced, the circuit being completed by passing from 56 to 51 and thence the coil 43.

Another series form is illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein the parts correspond to those of Fig. 2 the tube construction being multiple. Tubes 58, 59 and 60 being of different construction those of the same number being alike. These tubes may be arranged as desired as to shape and size, being located in close proximity to one another.

Another arrangement shown in Fig. 4 permits the use of the'rotating parts for control of other and separately generated power. A shaft 6| is shown as carrying two conductors 62 and 63'electrically connected as by means of wire 64. These may be insulated from the shaft if desired by the insertion of thin insulating strips 65 and 66.

The edges of conducting arms or discs 62 and'63 may be roughened to yield a multiplicity of edges, preferably thin. In operation. current from a supply such as is indicated by lines 61 and 68 may flow in a circuit which includes circular or other equivalent metal parts 69 and III with dielectrics II and I2 and gaps i3 and 14 between moving parts 62 and 63 and stationary parts 69 and 10. Other combinations of moving and stationary parts may be used and other wiring systems may be applied. Discharge may be to both sides of the dielectric.

A single or multipled magnet I may be -ro' tated by means of shaft 6i driven as by shaft 6 of motor I. The lines of force are shown as cutting two coils, for purposes of illustration and 16 is supposed to be neutral while end 11 is a north pole. While two stationary coils 18 and 19 are shown they may be in greater multiplicity with appropriate space between circumferentially. Charged coil may be rotated as a substitute for magnet or for operation in conjunction therewith. A voltage of alternating or pulsating sort may thus be induced applied to lines 80 and BI which connect to a grid 82 of a vacuum tube 83 with'plate 84 and filament 85. I prefer to use a battery 8 6 with voltage control such as variable resistance 81 and impedance 88. An alternating supply may be used in place of batteries. This gives a controllable form of current which is easily adjusted. As noted in connection with Fig. l the speed of rotation and hence the fre- The magnetic field may be varied as to intensity or otherwise formed. For preferred operation connection 89 of resistance 81 may be varied simultaneously as by lever 3 of Fig. 1.

The current (D. C. or A. C. the latter being preferred) supplied by means of lines 90 and 9| is schematically shown as flowing through a primary of a transformer 92 with secondary 93 supplying lines 61 and 68. The required potential may be generated within a second coil rotated by means of shaft BI and suitably placed as'regards coils 18 and I9 and coacting fields. Battery 94 and variable resistance 95 may be operated as usual or if desired as a function of movement of lever 3. The tube yields high frequency and permits the elimination of most or all of the iron of the Fig. 4 by placing the tubes in series in line 61, and

if desired in appropriate combination with the' discharge zone such as to combine the effects or as to yield nearly white light in 'a colored tube when a discharge zone is held in series there'- with. I have found that with a discharge gap in series with a. normally colored light the degree of excitation of the gas under low pressure is changed and that emissions of different wave lengths result and with the production of other colors and often a substantially white light or a white or near white light may/be obtained by appropriate combination of tubes thus operating. Parts shown in Ser. No. 616,071 may be combined with parts of the illustrations hereof or substithe rotating parts to determine or influence period of duration or rest as well as frequency. Thus lever 3 or its equivalent may be used to produce various'efiects. Coils 19 and I3, or their equivalent in another generating means, may be utilized to determine the flashing as by varying their circumferential placement by hand control with a means separate from lever 3 as may be desired. Ser. No. 449,338 shows the flashing and indicates its application for some purposes. As

elsewhere indicated with frequencies of about two or three thousand or over the apparatus may be simplified by material reduction in a substantial elimination of .iron from the transformer of current supplying a discharge zone or a tube or both.

The arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1 may be inverted as for use as a coiling light and wherein the warm air containing body odors may be treated with rays and ozone at their normal place of collection. The deflector may be mirrored to throw light downward. Arrangement of the surface of the tubes to form a conical or other equivalent shape will also assist in directing and/or controlling the illuminating effect as desired.

Another feature of the invention involves means for making apparent the fact that air is in motion. This permits of a psychological effect whereby an observer is not only benefited by the actual motion of the air but whereby his visualizing the indication of such motion causes him to actually enjoy his surroundings to a greater degree and imagine that he is cooler than he really This may be accomplished as shown in Fig. 1 by hanging a multiplicity of threads or other form of indicator from the edge 36. As the air is caused to move downwardly and outward through the opening near 31 these threads would be given a motion indicating that a draft or wind was being produced.

I do not limit my claims to the particular examples and illustrations shown. Other equivalent and modified methods and means may be employed to produce similar results.

I claim: 7

1. In apparatus for treating air by electrical discharge the combination of a discharge zone with a solid dielectric and one rotating electrode, a. current supply of normal sort. a thermionic tube in the supply circuit, a grid therein attached to a frequency generating means rotated commonly with the electrode adapted to produce a frequency of about 300 cycles, means for transforming the applied voltage and to produce therefrom a voltage of discharge with a high frequency produced by the generating means and a fan driven commonly with the electrode for promoting flow of air through the discharge zone and a variable potential direct current series connected means for controlling the voltage of the generated current of high frequency.

2. In a modulating apparatus, the combination of a normal current supply, a transformer and a thermionic tube in the circuit of the current, a screen grid within the tube, a generator means to apply an interrupting voltage on the screen which generator means is commonly driven with an electrode of a discharge zone forming a load of the supplied current and a variable direct current potential connected in series between the generator and the grid of the tube and adapted to vary the voltage applied to the screen.

3. In an apparatus for treating air by electrical discharge, in combination with a vertical casing opened circumferentially at the top and bottom and supported on a base supplied with a power source and a control member, a vertical motor contained within the base, a removable shaft extending upwardlyfrom the motor shaft and into a casing and engaging the motor shaft and carrying a magnet adapted to rotate so that the field thereof will cut the stationary wires of a coil contacting therewith to produce an alternating potential at a frequency of between about three and several thousand cycles, a pair of electrode discs carried by the shaft and rotating within two concentric and cylindrical dielectrics and separated therefrom by an air gap, a fan likewise carried by the shaft and adapted to force air through the gap, connection from the stationary coil to a grid of a power tube and means for applying power to the tube and the primary of an air transformer in series with the power tube andconnections with the coil so that the frequency of the coil will impose a corresponding frequency on the current flowing through the primary of the transformer, a secondary of the transformer adapted to produce a high voltage and connected to cylindrical electrodes contacting the outer surface of the two cylindrical dielectrics so that the induced voltage of the secondary of the transformer will flow in series through the two gaps and yield a brush discharge within the gap between the revolving electrode discs carried by the shaft and the cylindrical electrodes external to the dielectric so as to form ozone within air passed through the gap, a speedcontrol for the motor driving the extended shaft adapted to increase or decrease the motor speed with a corresponding change in frequency of the current flowed through the primary of the transformer and a simultaneous change in air flow.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in combination with vertically disposed luminous tubes within the casing connected in the circuit of the secondary of the transformer so that color produced by the tubes is desirably altered by the discharge of the gaps and light filters forming a portion of the vertical casing so as to alter light emitted by the luminous tubes radially with respect to the extension of the shaft.

5. In an apparatus for illuminating and ventilating a room, the combination ofa vemically disposed casing with a light filter therein, diverter plates top and bottom and substantially annular openings between the plates and the casing, support means to suspend or rest the casing, a vertical motor driven fa'nwithin the casing, and external means for varying the speed thereof, a power source, an extension of the fan shaft and rotatable means thereon to modulate and control the frequency of the electricity, means for generating high voltage of the current of the power source, a discharge gap with one electrode, adapted to rotate with the shaft and adapted to produce ozone and means of applying the high voltage thereto, a luminous tube adapted to throw light through the filter, and conductor means to apply the modulated-current to the tube, said parts being compactly arranged and housed within the casing substantially as described.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the luminous tubes are contained in multiplicity and of different colors and mounted to rotate with the fan.

JUSTIN 1i. WAIT. 

